Collection of non-gas phase airborne nanoparticles by microfabricated electrostatic precipitator

Abstract

Airborne non-gas phase nanoparticles have been successfully collected using a relatively low power (approximately 200mW at 80μA) and small footprint (approximately 1cm 2) microfabricated electrostatic precipitator. Polydispersed liquid phase oleic acid nanoparticles with size distribution of 30nm to 300nm are electrically charged and precipitated from the carrier gas phase medium at atmospheric pressure and temperature. The change in resistivity between the electrodes resulting from the build-up of precipitating nanoparticles is experimentally measured. Experimental airborne particles flux to the collection grid due to precipitation is approximately 4×10 4 particles per second for a concentration of approximately 1.5×10 6 particles per cubic centimeter. Copyright © 2004 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. All rights reserved.